Well, I thought I’d give those colored flairs another try. I’m not as happy with them as I am just the black flair, but it’s fun trying to blend and smear the ink.
Posts Tagged ‘Sketches’
Pink Azaleas
Summer Field in Pastel
Although I did some pastel portraits back in the 70′s, I really didn’t do too many. It was hard to find a class in those days. Then I spent years designing and selling quilts in shows etc., and my art was sporatic. Then one day, I found “Paint the Changing Seasons in Pastel” by Elizabeth Mowry and I was hooked. The pastel above is the first one I tried after a couple of practice dabs and you can see the Mowry influence in the strokes. Who would have thought you didn’t have to smudge the life out of the medium? I’m off to an art guild meeting, but I thought tomorrow I’ll do this scene again and see how my techniques have changed. Should be fun!
Pink Flowers
My motto: when in doubt, paint flowers. I have some ideas I’m working on, but I find that if I go too long planning something, it’s like I’ve actually done the artwork. So, while those ideas are tumbling around in my head, I thought I’d throw in a watercolor of flowers. I don’t know what kind they are. I saw something like this group and did a small sketch some time ago. I painted them in my 6 X 8 sketchbook with Prang watercolors. I’ll try to remember to show the steps next time. I think it’s been awhile since I’ve done that.
Tags: Color, Flowers, Sketches, Watercolor
Bishi with a bow
This is my female Shih Tzu, Bishi. Earlier in this blog, I have a line drawing of Bishi and Pango (male). They are such gentle, loving dogs, I don’t know why I haven’t painted them more. They are gold and white, so the next painting will have to be in color. This is 4-1/2 X 6 in my sketchbook, using my usual flair with water wash.
This is the photo I used for the sketch. I see in the photo that her head was tilted more and I like that. I learn a lot from my rushing the drawings and making mistakes….or rather not making the best choices! Now, I’ll definitely mark the tilt before drawing next time.
Tags: Animals, black & white, dogs, pen & ink, pets, Sketches
When Life Gives You Lemons
There’s a saying…..”when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. I’m posting my lemonade today.
As you saw in my coastal village sketch a couple of days ago (and I have lots of other
examples in my blog), I love sketching with a flair pen and then moving the ink around with water. Obviously non-permanent ink! In fact, you can’t always know in advance what color the wash will be….I suppose depending on how they mixed their black. I’ve had everything from pink to blue show up.
The other day I found a package of 12 flairs in 12 colors…….I imagined the fun I was going to have washing all those colors around. BUT, what I found was that only the black worked. The rest just sat there….and I expected to have a really bright sunflower scene again.
So, using the black flair here and there and mushing as much as I could, I came up with the drawing above. I’ll have to find another use for the other 11 flairs, but for today, they made lemonade!
My Dogs
My Dogs
5 X 7 pen & ink in my trusty sketchbook
I have two little “perfect posers” at home (Pango & Bishi), so I know I always have sketching subjects just waiting for the attention!
Tags: Animals, Bishi, dog, dogs, Pango, pen & ink, pets, Sketches
Miniature Bulldog
I found this photo of a miniature bulldog just lying there looking up with a longing expression and decided to see what I could do with it. I didn’t get the expression as well as I’d like. I may redo it tomorrow in color. They have such dopey-sweet faces! This was done with a flair pen then brushed with water. Size 4 X 5.
Tags: Animals, black & white, dogs, pen & ink, Sketches
Poppies- A Process Study
Just a quick flair drawing with water brushed on. Size 7 X 5
I decided to paint the poppies, later the same week… Size 6 X 9.
Tags: black & white, Color, Flowers, garden, pen & ink, poppies, process study, Sketches
Nasturtiums
Another quick watercolor of a spring flower. This was one of our many yellow/orange nasturtiums last year. Size 5 X 7.
Tags: Flowers, garden, nasturtiums, Sketches, Watercolor
Primroses
The drawing above is of Primroses (Primula polyantha) called Golden Lace. The center of each flower is bright yellow, the petals a deep reddish purple trimmed with white. The colors are so great, I may have to do this one in watercolor.
Tags: black & white, Flowers, garden, pen & ink, Sketches